Cuff for use with sphygmomanometers



Aug. 14, 1934. F. e. BRATHWAITE 1,970,042

CUFF FOR USE WITH SPHYGMOMANOMETERS Filed July 11. 1932 8Y4A .4. lam

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES CUFF FOR USE WITHSPHYGMOMA- NOMETERS Frederick G. Brathwaite, Darien, Conn.

Application July 11, 1932, Serial No. 621,975

2 Claims.

This invention relates to sphygmomanometers, and in particular to thearm band thereof, which carries the air bag forming part of or connectedto recording apparatus, such as a mercury or 5 aneroid manometer or anoscillometer.

The band has an important bearing in the reading of blood pressurecharacteristics in sphygmomanometry. With refinement of construction inrecording apparatus seeking the exploration of the most delicatedifierentiations in the various pressures, it is necessary that thesedelicate readings be not altered by extraneous conditions. Thus, the bagshould exert an even and homogeneous pressure over the vessel duringobservation. In the band or cufi as heretofore constructed, especiallyin respect to the means of application or fastening of the band to thearm of the patient, this requirement has not been fulfilled. There hasbeen the tendency of the bag to become bisected or altered, to yield orgive under self-adjustment of the fastening means, especially undermaximal pressures, and even where this is not pronounced, such excursionof the bag as to affect the reading, and

in absence of that ease and facility of application of the culf to thearm, that makes for ease of mind of the nervous patient.

By my invention, '1 provide a construction in which the cuff when placedupon the arm, re-

gardless of the size of the arm, will have its ends in positive andfixed apposition over the whole width of the cuff or at substantiallyall points in a line transversely of the band, in such manner as tosecure uniform constriction about the arm and substantial constancy ofthe factors of cuff resistance and resulting accuracy of reading andrecording, in that variations of pressure created in the cuff bag aretransmitted exclusively of any extraneous modifying factors to therecording apparatus. Further, I provide a cuff that may be easily andquickly applied to the arm or limb.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevational view of asphygmomanometer arm band employing my invention; the fabric of the bardbeing partly broken away to show the rubber bag; Figure 2 is aperspective view showing the band applied to an arm; Figures 3, 4, 5, 6,'7 and 8 are detailed views showing the fastening devices for closing ofthe band about then-rm, and

which will be referred to hereinafter.

The band proper 2 may be made of duck or any suitable material,,pfeferably of a nonstretching or non-yielding weave. This band isprovided in the usual manner with a pocket 3, in which is housed therubber bag 4, having the usual intake 5 for an air supply'(not shown),and the outlet 6 for attachment to a manometer (not shown); The end edge7 of the band, which 'is adjacent the pocket 3 is provided with astringer 8 carrying locking or fastening pins or fingers 9, which are.adapted to interlock and co-operate with like fingers 9a on stringers 10disposed along the fabric of the band commencing preferably at theopposite end of the band, as clearly shown in Figure 1. Any number ofstringers 10 may be employed, and so arranged as to adapt the band to awide range of arm sizes.

In general, the fastening device of the stringers 8 and 10 preferablyfollows the construction of a well-known hookless fastener now on themarket.

In the particular illustration, the flexible stringers are locked andunlocked by a sliding cam device 11 mounted on the stringer 8, andadapted to receive a stringer 10, the locking being effected by movementof the cam in one direction, and unlocking by movement of the cam in theopposite direction. The stringers 8 and 10 are alike and consist asshown, of a fabric strip or tape 12 (see Figures 3 to 8), provided asshown in Figures 6 and '7, with an outer rolled edge or bead 13, uponwhich the locking fingers or pins 9 and 9a are clamped or fastened; thelocking members or pins having a base or jaw-like portions 14, which areclamped upon the tape, and outwardly projecting locking portions 14a,provided with a cup-shaped 85 indentation and projection 15, so that oneside of one member nests within the recess of the opposite side of theadjoining member when in locked relation.

In applying the band, it is so arranged on the arm that the stringer 8will be brought into close juxtaposition to one of the stringers 10,depending upon the size of the arm and the consequent takeup of thelength of the band 2. The upper end of each stringer 10 is provided witha smooth pin-like extension 19, and the upper end of the stringer 8 isprovided with a recessed piece or clip 20. As shown in Figures 3 and 8,the cam 11 is provided with a forked or Y-shaped recess 21. In attachingthe band to the arm, the extension 19 of a stringer 10 is first insertedin its respective fork of the recess 21 of the cam through which itpasses into engagement with the clip- 20. By holding the band at the topthereof as indicated in Figure 4, and feeding the cam downward on thestringers by means of the finger piece 11a, the locking fingers 9 and 9aof the stringers passing through the Y-shaped recess are broughttogether and locked on one another by the cam, the lower or forkedportion of which bends the stringers so as to spread the fingers in suchmanner as to cause the cup-shaped ends of the fingers of one stringer tomesh with those of the other adjoining stringer and then to interlockone with the other as the narrow upper part of the cam brings thestringers together in straight or parallel lines, in the movement of the.cam along the stringers. and disengaged according to the direction ofmovement. Thus to remove the band the cam is returned to its uppermostposition. To facilitate manipulation of the cam 11, the cam is providedwith a pivoted finger piece 11a.

As shown in Figure 5, the finger piece 11a has a projecting pin 16, andthe cam a corresponding opening 1'7. The lower end of stringer 8 is provided with a loop 18. When the band has been fastened about the arm asshown in Figure 2, the finger piece 11a isfolded back upon the cam, inthe direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 5, so that the pin 16passing through the opening 17 of the cam will engage the loop 18 andlock the cam against upward movement and unfas-' tening of the stringersduring inflation of the rubber bag and consequent tension upon thefastening means.

It will be seen from the above that the difficulties incident to the useof arm bands having long tails or extensions or heavy or cumbersomeclamping devices for the purpose of fastening the band to the arm, areobviated by the use of this band. The band is easily applied and removedfrom. the

arm; a uniform circumferential constriction ob- The locking members willbe engaged tains, as the binding is positive and firm and it is possibleto uniformly inflate the air bag, and there is obviated the tendency forthe bag to shift its position on the arm. The ease and quickness ofapplication and uniformity of hold and security on the arm conduce toease the mind of the patient. All these things result in greateraccuracy in the recording of the manometer. Further, the device issimple and compact in construction and cheap to manufacture.

I claim:

1. A cuff for sphygmomanometers and the like, comprising a band adaptedto be applied to the arm of a patient, and having end portions, andmeans for locking the end portions in positive and fixed apposition atall points along a line transversely and substantially the entire widthof the band.

2. A cuff for sphygmomanometers and the like, comprising a band adaptedto be applied to the arm of a patient, and. having end portions, aseries of locking devices spaced at intervals along the back of the bandat one end portion and extending transversely of the band, and a lockingdevice carried by the other end of the band and adapted forinterchangeable locking cooperation with the other locking devices, toeffect in each case a continuous seam-like jointure between the ends ofthe band, to hold said ends in positive and fixed apposition at allpoints of a line transversely and substantially the entire width of theband.

FREDERICK G. BRATHWAI'I'E.

